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If you abase yourself, people respect you less because you behave in a way that shows that someone else has complete power over you.

The word abject emphasizes a very bad situation or quality and makes it even worse.

If you abominate something, you hate it because you think it is extremely wrong and unacceptable.

If you describe a situation or condition as abysmal, you think that it is extremely bad or of wretched quality.

When you are agitated by something, you are disturbed or troubled by it.

If you alleviate pain or suffering, you make it less intense or severe.

When you amend a document or your character, you fix it to improve it for the better.

Something that is apposite is relevant or suitable to what is happening or being discussed.

You use blithe to indicate that someone does something casually or in a carefree fashion without much concern for the end result.

Someone in a buoyant mood is in good spirits.

A condign reward or punishment is appropriate, fitting, or deserved by the person who receives it.

If you condole with someone, you express sympathy or sorrow, usually on the death of someone dear.

A convalescent person spends time resting to gain health and strength after a serious illness or operation.

If you deprecate something, you disapprove of it strongly.

If you desecrate something which is considered holy or very special, you deliberately spoil or damage it.

If you say a person or action is despicable, you think they are extremely unpleasant or nasty.

If you are despondent, you are extremely unhappy because you are in an unpleasant situation that you do not think will improve.

When you enhance something, you improve it, make it better, or add to it in some way.

If something exacerbates a problem or bad situation it makes it even worse.

When you exasperate another person you annoy or anger her a great deal because you keep on doing something that is highly irritating.

When one extricates oneself from a difficult or unpleasant situation one manages to get free from it.

A hapless person is someone you feel sorry for; she is so unlucky that many bad things have happened and continue to happen to her.

Something that is immutable is always the same and cannot be changed.

When something impairs someone it weakens, harms, or lessens him in some way.

When something incapacitates someone, it causes her to no longer be able to perform some function because she has been made incapable or unfit to perform it.

Someone who is inconsolable has been so devastated by a terrible event that no one can help her feel better about it.

That which is irremediable cannot be cured or corrected, for it is beyond repair.

Something irreparable, such as damage, cannot be repaired or fixed in any way.

When an irreversible act is done it cannot be undone or fixed in any way.

An irrevocable action, decision, etc. is impossible to change, reverse, or stop.

If you mitigate something harmful you reduce the harmful or painful effects of it.

If you mollify someone you say or do something to make that person feel less angry or upset.

If you nettle someone you irritate him.

If you describe people or things as odious you think that they are extremely unpleasant.

A panacea is something that people think will solve all problems and make everything better.

A pejorative word, phrase, or expression expresses a bad opinion of someone or something.

You use the word squalor to describe very dirty and unpleasant conditions that people live or work in, usually due to poverty or neglect.

To subvert something, like a government, is to try to destroy or damage its power and influence; to subvert someone is to corrupt her morals, loyalty, or faith.

To taint is to give an undesirable quality which damages a person’s reputation or otherwise spoils something.

When you temper something or someone, you moderate, soften, calm, or tone it down.

If a problem or situation is vexing, it means that it puzzles, worries, or annoys you.

If something is vitiated, it has been made less effective, weakened, or reduced in quality.

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Verb

ameliorate

uh-MEEL-yuh-rayt

Context

By finding a part-time job, Susan was able to ameliorate or improve her household’s poor financial situation. The knowledge that she would finally be able to afford food for her family ameliorated or relieved Susan’s sadness. Susan’s best friend Emily had helped ameliorate or relieve some of her financial distress when she had been unemployed: a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Memory Hook

Amelia's Test Overrated I have decided to rateAmelia's test an A instead of a D, which will certainly ameliorate her low grade, but perhaps will lower my professional self-esteem.

Examples

Other recent studies have hinted that omega-3 fatty acids may also help protect against diabetes and cancer, slow the progression of early Alzheimer’s disease, and perhaps ameliorate depression and other mental disorders, including attention-deficit disorder in children.
—The Washington Post

Rather than block it, governments need to try to ameliorate the pains which change inflicts by, for example, retraining or temporarily helping those workers who lose their jobs.
—The Economist

The company says that proper distance from the microphone will ameliorate most voice recognition problems, but one interview suggests that they know very well the machine can’t handle the word 'blue.'
—USA Today

Understanding urban health variations and developing viable strategies to ameliorate inequalities in today’s highly urbanized and developed societies, therefore, will have invaluable future implications for the currently less developed but rapidly industrializing and urbanizing societies.
—BNET